Jufureh
Jufureh | |
|---|---|
The Albreda-Juffure Archway | |
| Coordinates: 13°20′19″N 16°22′57″W / 13.33861°N 16.38250°W | |
| Country | The Gambia |
| Division | North Bank Division |
| District | Upper Niumi |
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Population | |
| • Ethnicities | Mandinka |
| • Religions | Islam |
Jufureh (also spelled Juffureh or Juffure) is a town in the Gambia, 30 kilometres inland on the north bank of the River Gambia in the North Bank Division near Kunta Kinteh Island. The town is home to a museum and Fort Jillifree.
Jufureh is known for its appearance in Alex Haley's 1976 novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family, as the birthplace of Haley's ancestor Kunta Kinte. After the publication of Roots, Jufureh became a significant tourist destination. This led to economic benefits for the town, including the construction of an elementary school, a new market aimed at tourists, and improved roads.